(Ah, the opportunists have arrived! - Gwen)


http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83~31155~2092284,00.html


Article Last Updated: Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 3:22:31 AM PST


Christian group to protest homosexuality at Araujo trial

Kansas-based church organization

By Ben Aguirre Jr., STAFF WRITER

HAYWARD -- Less than a week after opening statements began in the trial of three
men charged with the murder of a Newark transgender teenager, members of a
fundamentalist Baptist church say they will be picketing outside the county
courthouse Monday where three men are on trial.

Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., said they would be spreading
their message that homosexuality isn't the will of God.

Michael Magidson, 23, of Fremont and Jose Merel and Jason Cazares, both 24, of
Newark are charged with the murder of the 17-year-old who was born Eddie Araujo,
but was living as a female named Gwen at the time of the slaying.

Opening statements began Wednesday with a prosecutor describing in detail the
violent killing of Araujo, who was beaten, strangled and buried in a shallow
grave during the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 2002.

A fourth man, Jaron Nabors, 20, originally was arrested and charged along with
the other men. Last year, Nabors agreed to plead guilty to involuntary
manslaughter in exchange for his testimony against the three men.

On Monday, as the trial of the three men inside the courtroom continues, members
of the Baptist church say they plan to hold a rally beginning at noon.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a member of the church, said likely less than 10 will be
protesting.

"There is a God, there is a Judgment Day and it's not OK to be gay," she said.

Pat Skillen, president the Fremont-Newark chapter of Parents, Families and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said they hadn't even heard of the group's plans
and that they had not planned to counterprotest on Monday.

"Probably more effective to turn our backs to him," she said. "This is a very
difficult time for the Araujo family. I think Rev. (Fred) Phelps is just using
this to spread his hate message."

Phelps is the leader of the Topeka-based church that has come to the East Bay on
numerous occasions to protest homosexuality.

In October 2002, about the same time as Araujo's funeral, the group protested
"The Laramie Project," a play put on by Newark Memorial High School students.
The play deals with the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Laramie, Wyo., resident
Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay.

The church came to the Fremont area at that time only to protest the play, and
not to disrupt Araujo's funeral, Phelps-Roper said -- adding that she regrets
that they didn't.

Local law enforcement agencies said they are aware of the protest and are
prepared to take action if things get out of hand.

Ben Aguirre Jr. can be reached at (510) 293-2473 or baguirre@... .




©2004 by MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers

. .
/\\//\ Gwendolyn Ann Smith * www.gwensmith.com
> () < Columnist, Bay Area Reporter & Philadelphia Gay News
\/()\/ Board Member, FTMI * Board Member, GEA
"I want this to be a harmony of voices" - Lauren D. Wilson